Resident Evil 1 Remake Gets Official Update From Capcom

Capcom has officially provided an update regarding the remake of the first Resident Evil game. The developer/publisher has been steadily remaking the classics into modernized versions, more similar to what the franchise looks like today. That started back in 2019, with the release of Resident Evil 2 Remake, but we’re now looking at a new Resident Evil Remake collection for 2027. The company recently announced that it is also working on the remake of one of the most impactful entries in the series, but until now, talks about a remake of Resident Evil 1 hadn’t occurred.

As part of a special Nikkei Entertainment issue focused mainly on the 30th anniversary of Resident Evil, according to a report by Games Radar, series producer Jun Takeuchi provided some information about the remake of Resident Evil 1. The developer did not confirm or deny the long-standing rumors about the remake, but he did explain why Capcom did not choose the first entry in the series as the first remake the series would handle, and it has everything to do with how different the first game is from the second and all other installments later on.

According to Takeuchi, Resident Evil 1 wasn’t chosen as the first option for the remakes at Capcom “because it’s such a stoic game.” The producer details that the first entry in the franchise has its horror fueled by that same “stoicism,” and that the company was concerned that a remake of that game would “not resonate with today’s game fans.” The rumored remake of Resident Evil 1 would be, indeed, drastically different from Resident Evil 2 Remake, on all fronts.

What Takeuchi seems to describe is how much the first game’s horror is built around a continuously tense atmosphere and ambiance. The sequel’s horror comes mostly from a large stalking presence. Moreover, the series sees a huge pivot. While the first game is about surviving without getting caught, the franchise has constantly evolved into something a lot more action-oriented, where players have tons of different tools at their disposal to deal with the infected. Those who played the latest core Resident Evil games would see something completely different in a potential Resident Evil 1 Remake.

If a fan’s first contact with Resident Evil came with Resident Evil 5, Resident Evil 6, or Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, they’d likely expect a bit more adrenaline and action, and Resident Evil 1 is more about getting haunted by your surroundings. This isn’t a confirmation that the first entry won’t get a remake, but an explanation as to why it wasn’t Capcom’s starting point. The rumors about a Resident Evil 1 Remake are strong, but there is still something officially announced before that: the upcoming Resident Evil: Code Veronica Remake.

Given how successful the remake installments have proven to be, despite the well-deserved criticisms of Resident Evil 3 Remake, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Capcom were to continue making remakes of the series. After the Code Veronica remake, the most logical step would be to remake the oldest entry in the Resident Evil series, and if the rumors are to be believed, it’s already an unannounced reality we just have to wait for.

Systems

Released

March 22, 1996

ESRB

Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence

Engine

RE Engine

Number of Players

1